Friday, October 31, 2008

Hi, Wow, it's Friday again. It's also Halloween, which means there will probably be strange creatures all around. It's also the last Formula One weekend of the season. How will you handle it all? (555) There were more David Bowie fans that I figured. Maybe you just remembered the song. Anyway, it was "Let's Dance" and, as I suspected, the first line of the song (second day clue) brought tons of mail. Let's see if you get this with only one clue:"Everybody's got a thing, but some don't know how to handle it. Always reachin' out in vain accepting the things not worth having but, __ __ __ __ __ __ , (repeat) mama. 'Cause I'll be standin' on the side when you check it out..." Hint: Recorded this one during his prolific years, playing almost everything, seeing nothing. Song is encouraging optimism. Hmm. We had to make another trip to the vet today. We became very concerned about a rash on BamBam's legs. The best explanation is that it came from her lying on a surface that wasn't completely dry after the bug guy's 'non-toxic' visit. She's not acting like anything is wrong so we're not sure how to feel. We just know that it shouldn't be there and the vet was just as puzzled. So many things in the world to be careful about, even with guarantees. I promise not to rant. The bug guys came again today because there was a concentration of ants in one of the kitchens. Boot keeps it spotless, yet there's a line of marching ants going up the wall. So, they came and basically redid the job with a focus on the inside and outside of the kitchen area. We kept Bam inside for most of the day. Just walks on the front lawn and back in the house. When I was sure everything was dry, we let her have 'her' yard back. It's very hard to resist the pool when it looks so inviting. I've come to the conclusion that the 'foot test' is not how I should decide about swimming. I need to put some pool water on my stomach or lower back to see if it's cold. Foot said, 'feels good'. When I got in it was cold. We swam for about 10 minutes and got out. It's still a good, heart pounding workout, but it shouldn't be so taxing. One good thing though, we may be able to swim this winter if we get tough enough. (5) Today on the street, was "Turn In Front of Anyone You Want Day" as long as they see you and they have time to stop. We've known the rule for quite a while, but today everyone was doing it. I joined in the merriment at one point. There was something in the air. I think it's time for the 'Funnies'. This is from the archives. Have a Fun, Safe, Wild WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

The PrescriptionA nice, calm and respectable lady went into the pharmacy, walked up to the pharmacist, looked straight into his eyes, and said, 'I would liketo buy some cyanide.'

The pharmacist asked, 'Why in the world do you need cyanide?'The lady replied, 'I need it to poison my husband.'The pharmacist's eyes got big and he exclaimed, 'I can't give you cyanide to kill your husband. That's against the law! I'll lose my license! They'll throw both of us in jail! All kinds of bad thingswill happen. Absolutely not! You CANNOT have any cyanide!'

The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife.The pharmacist looked at the picture and replied, 'Well now, that's different. You didn't tell me you had a prescription.'

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Hi, Another wonderful day in Chiang Rai. Today we were back in town for odd and ends (like food), and had company in the afternoon. In the midst of it all we had a chilly swim. What a pleasure to know that some of you got the song even with lyrics from the middle. I'm guessing that this will clinch it:"(__ __) Put on your red shoes and dance the blues (__ __) To the song they're playin' on the radio." Hint: It's all there, really. When we got up this morning there was a note from Boot. A very sweet note telling us she wouldn't be able to take care of us today, she had no energy and was off to the doctor. That meant deciding what, where and how to eat. We went into town and changed our minds a couple of times but finally decided to have lunch in town and cook dinner. After lunch we picked up some food and headed home. Boot was back from the doctor by the time we arrived at the house. The company I spoke of was Icy. You may remember that Icy is a cute little white dog that's been a friend of Boot's for many years. He was quite jealous of BamBam the first time they met. Today was no different. It was something, watching the two of them. BamBam wanted to play, but Icy is a grumpy old man and didn't want to be bothered. At one point we were sitting on the deck and Icy came over to us. We started petting him and Bam came over and made a point of intruding. Icy let out a little grunt, got up and left. And so it went. We usually don't swim in the early afternoon, but the sun was bright and the water was cold so we decided to try it. We're not ready for the Polar Bear Club or anything like that, but it was cold. After a couple of laps it was bearable (no pun intended).Icy came over to the edge as I was slowly entering the water and I was hoping he didn't get any ideas about joining us. That's all we need is for BamBam to be influenced by an older man and think it's alright to come in the pool. Oh, last night while we were cruising the Night Bazaar we ran into Jane and Ruud, the couple we met from Holland. They recently returned from a trip to Singapore. Today Jane left for Holland but Ruud stayed behind. He said it's too cold. See, I'm not the only one who doesn't like cold. When she returns we're going to get together for dinner. You know that Western trends have crossed the water when you see teenage boys "saggin'". For those who don't know what that means, it's a term for wearing one's pants so low they look like they're going to fall off. There are many other things that I've noticed and I'll tell you about them as time goes by. Enjoy your Thursday.

Peace, Danny

"True love begins when nothing is looked for in return."~Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Hi, We had a pretty busy day today. The pool guys showed up bright and early to do their thing. Then it was out into the city for errands, business and adventure. Today you get a history lesson. The song was "Fever", first recorded in 1956 by Little Willie John. It was written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell was also a writer on 'Handyman'. The song was sung by Peggy Lee in '58 with additional lyrics that stuck. It was a big hit primarily due to the segregation of radio at the time. Music recorded by artists who were then known as 'colored', were only allowed to be played on low wattage small town stations. The music was called 'race music' and many DJs at white stations risked their jobs if they played songs like 'Fever' as sung by Mr. John. Many records were 'covered' by white artists who went on to fame and fortune because of the exposure. Over time, the music won and the lines were blurred (to a point) and by the '60s everybody had a better chance at the mass markets. Oh, the stories I could tell. Now we fast-forward to about 1983 and move to a different beat with an artist from a different country. Try this one:"If you say run, I'll run with you. And if you say hide, we'll hide. Because my love for you would break my heart in two if you should fall into my arms and tremble like a flower." Clues: This is from the bridge of the song. The artist has been in space, took live shows to new dimensions and wants someone in the song to move their feet with him. Hmm. After the pool guys left, we went to the bank, and then out to Bandu to run an errand. Our plan was to go from Bandu to lunch since Boot was still sick. We stopped off at Macro to look for a good paper cutter and left with a basket full of provisions. This meant a stop at the house. Whenever we leave the house, BamBam comes out and wants to get in the truck. Once she's been told she's not going she patiently sits on the porch step or sits in the carport until we leave. Today was no exception. What BamBam didn't realize is that she would be going out later in the day. She had one more visit to the vet and today was the day. When Lisa got her leash out, Bam got very excited. She jumped into the back seat and took her spot. I opened the little rear window and she was in heaven. So many things to smell and see. I could hear her back there taking it all in and then exhaling and sniffing again. We're going to have to do this more often. She's truly becoming a 'road dog'. (Ha) It's time for another Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

"The miracle is this--the more we share, the more we have."~Leonard Nimoy

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hi, The weather report is getting boring. It rained really hard last night. The good news is that we had a beautiful, sunny day today. It was one of those days when we had a couple of crews working on the house at the same time. Quite a day. I got lots of mail with the right title for the song, but only one with the original artist. So far, Sandy from the Bay Area is the only one to get it right. By the way, Google won't help you with this one. It's not there. Tomorrow you will know things."Sun lights up the day time, Moon lights up the night. I light up when you call my name 'cause I know you're gonna treat me right.You give me __" Hint: It was two years before Peggy, and the temperature's rising. One of the 'joys' of living in a tropical land is insects. I know, there's the balance of nature, all the creatures and all, but when they come in the house and eat your food, they gotta go. Hence, the appointment with the bug guys. They came first. We made sure that all of BamBam's toys were put away before they began. Then came the floor guys. We've had a few pieces of laminate that got too wet during the storms and had to be replaced. It's easier said than done. It took them most of the afternoon. We had to vacate the bedroom and hang out in the guest room. Lots of up and down the stairs and now we feel it. And then there was the visit from Sutheera. Lisa's been editing a paper she wrote for her PhD. course in Bangkok. It's very interesting to hear what happens when one language gets translated literally, into another. We go through it everyday trying to communicate verbally, but there's a little wiggle room. There's always a friendly smile trying to help understand what we're trying to say. When it's written, it totally changes. The final result was the abstract for a paper I'd like to read. We had a dinner with 'The Family' scheduled for this evening but Boot is still sick so we canceled. Had it been left up to Boot, she would have cooked and served the meal. We'll do it on Friday instead. Time to relax. Time for you to have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace, Danny

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go;they merely determine where you start."~Nido Qubein

Monday, October 27, 2008

Hi, Welcome back from the weekend. Supposedly, the rainy season is over but you'd never know it by the amount of water falling from the sky. We've had rain every day. Chiang Rai Province has been given flood warnings, but here in the city it's not a problem. Things are growing like crazy and the air has been pleasant. Nice to know you recognized the oldie but goodie this weekend. It was "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by The Temptations. Next:"Never know how much I love you Never know how much I care When you put your arms around me I get a __ that's so hard to bear..." Hint: This one goes way back. It's been covered a million times but you need to tell me the first artist to hit with this song. It was a man and the title makes reference to a medical symptom. Wow, I think I just gave it away. Saturday morning Boot woke up with the flu. That meant we had to baby-sit BamBam and fend for ourselves. No big deal since this was to be her first day wild and free. She did what we expected. She tried to cover every square meter of the property, sniffing, biting, and romping with a big smile on her face. Oh yes, she actually has a smile. While on the subject of BamBam, I have to tell you about a few things she does. She sleeps in Boot's apartment by her bed. Boot holds her paw until she falls asleep. Saturday, when Boot didn't get up at the usual time, Bam became concerned and began sniffing her arm and nudging her. When Lisa is working in her studio, Bam gets one of her bones and lies under Lisa's desk, at her feet. It's too cute. When she wants to go outside, she'll go to the door. If there's no response, she'll give a little high pitched bark that she knows is not Ok. Today our friend Tay came over with her 9-year old daughter Napa. This is the first time that Napa has been over when BamBam was allowed to 'play'. They had a wonderful time running and chasing each other on the front lawn. They are best buddies now. This afternoon we went into town for a massage. It started pouring rain just as we got there. We sat in the truck, thinking we'd wait it out. We gave up and bravely jumped out, umbrellas in hand and made it inside. Just then the rain stopped. We both had a great session and felt very relaxed when we left. Have a Fantastic Week.

Peace, Danny

"Although we have been made to believethat if we let go we will end up with nothing,life itself reveals again and again the opposite;that letting go is the path to real freedom."~Sogyai Rinpoche,

Friday, October 24, 2008

This morning around 2:30 a.m. it started raining. Actually, it started storming and it went on for over an hour. "Thunder and lightning, very very frightening to me." Oops, bonus points if you know that song. Anyway, it dumped so we don't have to water the trees.

I guess the second day's hint woke up some dormant rock genes and I got lots of mail. It was "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones. They're still here. Our weekend song should be easy for some. It's an R&B classic from an R&B classic. The group was part of a big family of hit-makers. "I know you want to leave me, but I refuse to let you go..." No hints, no clues.

Most of the day was spent inside doing our respective arts. Lisa painted and I resurrected an old bossa nova I haven't played in years. It rained off and on all day. The sky cleared in mid afternoon and we went for a short swim.

Boot had her last night of her English class so after dinner we hung out with BamBam in the guest room. She had us cracking up with her play this evening. She'd take her cloth chew toy and toss it in the air and then dive on it. Sometimes she'd catch it but most of the time it was about toss and attack. Our little bundle of energy is still under mild confinement and she's dying to run around the yard and sniff and bite everything. Soon she will be released. She won't be the only one who will be happy with that arrangement.

I'm going to leave you now, with a lesson in economics sent to me by Cousin Trudye. Have a Cool WeekEnd.

Peace

Danny

Once upon a time in a place overrun with monkeys, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them.

The man bought thousands at $10 and as supply started to diminish, they became harder to catch, so the villagers stopped their effort.The man then announced that he would now pay $20 for each one.This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. But soon the supply diminished even further and they were ever harder to catch, so people started going back to their farms and forgot about monkey catching.The man increased his price to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so sparse that it was an effort to even see a monkey, much less catch one.The man now announced that he would buy monkeys for $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on his behalf.While the man was away the assistant told the villagers, “Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has bought. I will sell them to you at $35 each and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each.”The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys. They never saw the man nor his assistant again and once again there were monkeys everywhere.Now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Hi, Well, it's been a busy, interesting day. We traveled into town and went to Big C for supplies. It was really busy since a lot of the schools are on vacation and families were all over the store. We finally made it back to the house for a late lunch and discovered guests were coming. A few of you knew this rowdy recording from a bunch of seemingly ageless rockers. The next line should bring it back to you:"You make a grown man cry, you make a grown man cry..." Hint: They've been doin' it since the 60's and somehow they just keep going and going. You gotta know this one. Boot's friends Chris and Amica (who are becoming our friends too) were due to come over for a swim. They usually bring their lunch and make an afternoon of it. Boot told us that her former mother-in-law was also coming over. They all arrived at about the same time so it was time for sharing attention. Boot's 'mother', her husband and son visited with Boot in her place for a while and then, while Chris and 'M' swam, they sat on the patio and ate and talked. It turned out to be a very sweet reunion for them and Lisa took pictures and printed them out so they could have a memento of the visit. The 'father' is seventy-five years old and looked sharp. They got a tour of the house and then left. The swimmers hung out and we talked until dinner time. There's more about driving in Chiang Rai that I'd like to share. Lighting on vehicles is, as they say here, 'Up to you'. I think I've mentioned the motorbikes with red or green headlights. Tonight I saw an SUV with little lights on the rear that lit up with the brake-lights. That wouldn't be unusual except that they had little LEDs inside that ran around in a circle whenever the brakes were applied. Hmm, not distracting at all. (Ha) Inside the same vehicle they were watching a dash mounted T.V. That's a ticket in L.A., but who's keeping score? Sam-Lors (three-wheeled pedal taxis) have no lights. Some of them hang CDs on the back to act as reflectors. Clever. The whole point of all this is that one has to pay close attention to everything that moves. Have a Great Thursday.

Peace, Danny

"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains,at the huge waves of the sea,at the long courses of rivers,at the vast compass of the ocean,at the circular motion of the stars;and they pass by themselves without wondering."~Saint Augustine

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Hi, It was a busy morning around here today. The pool guys were back for their regular day and while they were doing things out back, a new bug guy was answering questions at the dining room table. I kept having to go back and forth to make sure certain things were right with the pool. New bug guy will be back next week to start the process of dealing with the ants. There are about four different kinds and he thinks they come from the corn fields. Hmm. I'm proud of all the memories out there who remembered "We Got The Beat" by The Go-Go's. Same decade gave us this:"I've been running hot, you got me ticking gonna blow my top. If you __ __ __ If you __ __ __ I'll never stop, never stop,never stop..." Clues: Band from across the water, some wonder how they still do it. Something your car might say when you get in... Just when we thought BamBam was all better, we took her to the vet for a final check and Lisa noticed her nose was warm. She also noticed some redness where there shouldn't be redness. The doctor said we should watch her closely, and leave her out of the cage. The problem is she's supposed to remain calm but she's a ball of energy about to burst. We left the cage with the vet and it's like Bam knows she can't be confined. She's pacing, going for the door, trying real hard to bust out. We had a light rain late this afternoon, but nothing major. There is a forecast for rain tomorrow and Friday, but who knows who to believe. We'll just watch the sky and be ready. Had a good swim today. There's a level of exercise that leaves you knowing. It was like that. The laps are getting easier and as long as I can brave the water, I'll swim. I toyed with the idea of a thin wet-suit, but I was just kidding. Then again, I have no idea how cold the water will be when winter really kicks in. 'Kicks in' is another one of those phrases that makes one wonder. It's time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

"We see ourselves as broken, and then set outon a long and frustrating journey to fill our emptiness.But it is not fixing that we require; it is awakening."~Alan Cohen

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hi, Well, not long after I wrote you saying that I wished it would rain, it rained. Last night we had lots of rolling thunder, lightning and rain. Just what we needed, right on time. Seems a few of you know your 80s Rock. I still say that decade got a bad rap when it came to music. Music merely reflects."Go-go music really makes us dance. Do the pony puts us in a trance, do the watusi just give us a chance. That's when we fall in line, __ __ __ __ (repeat, of course)" Hint: First words of this verse should tell you about the artists. What is the common denominator in all the dances? We spent the morning on the phone, or should I say, the computer. We talked to Lisa's Dad and my Mom. When we finally hung up, it was approaching lunchtime. We try to stay in touch with a call at least once a week and email in between. It's a big distance that doesn't have to be that far. If you want to stay in touch, you stay in touch. There, sermon over. We went into town in the afternoon in search of a new bag silk screening source, and a trip to the central market. The shop we went to was closed so we dove into the maze. The market is set up in such a way that one can easily get turned around. I forgot my bread crumbs today so we wandered a bit. Our mission was to get some material for pants. Ghan called to say that she couldn't find what I wanted so we got it. Later, back at home, we were talking about when Ghan might come by and then the doorbell rang and it was her. Amazing how that works sometimes. She made a special bag for me and had finished it. It's a prototype of what I'm calling a 'Man Tote'. It's slimmer and has longer straps so it can be worn over the shoulder and hang 'cool'. (Ha) It came out perfect and I can't wait to get the 'Get Down' print on it. (You'll know what I mean after you visit Lisa's site) It was 'drop in' day at the Big Brown House. We heard the bell again and it was Khun Noy from the frame shop. He was passing by with a friend and decided to stop and see what was behind the wall. We gave them a tour of the house and talked about art (business). He wants to bring one of his art teacher friends over so he and Lisa can share and compare. Well, that was our day in Chiang Rai. Have a Happy Tuesday where you are.

Peace, Danny

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response.In our response lies our growth and freedom"~Victor Frankl

Monday, October 20, 2008

Hi, We had a beautiful, dry weekend here in Chiang Rai. It looks like the storm that hit Viet Nam fell apart before it could get here. Nice that we didn't have a storm, but a little rain would have been nice. Now that's a change. Me wanting rain. (Ha) The weekend song, as many of you knew, was "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream. We watched 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' this weekend so you get to sing this song in your head, if you know it. It's by an all 'Girl' band and it's in a million compilations."See the people walking down the street. Fall in line just watching all their feet. They don't know where they wanna go.But they're walking in time. __ __ __ __ (repeat several times)" Hint: Once you get the beat, you should have no problem. Hmm. We spent most of Saturday around the house. We did go out in the morning to take BamBam to the vet for a check. She's doing pretty good and should be 'out of the cage' tomorrow. She's been so good about her confinement. In the afternoon our old friend Supat came by. We haven't seen him in awhile and it was good to see him and sit and talk. Part of his visit was to deal with some things around the house that need to be dealt with. I won't go into detail except to say that 'settling' is the explanation we got for the cracks in some walls. Fortunately these are not structural, but part of the cosmetic rendering over the bricks and concrete. More will revealed, or concealed. Sunday, Lisa went on an outing with our friend Sutheera. She wanted Lisa to meet her mom and then go to lunch. They had a great time and afterwards they all came back to the house and I got to meet her mom. Here's something we learned: Play names are always shorter than real names. Makes sense when you think about it. Sutheera asked Lisa if she had a play name and when she told her it was 'Ici', she said it wasn't any shorter than Lisa, and left it at that. Many of the names have nothing to do with the real name. Sometimes it's just the sound, sometimes it's an animal. So, "What's up, Dog?" (Ha) Today we picked up the first edition of Lisa's bag project. They are black tote bags with two different paintings that she did in her 'Dancer' series. One is a Thai dancer in a pose with outstretched arms with the caption: 'Reach Out'. The other is a Hip Hop dancer doing a hand-stand with the caption: 'Get Down'. Both paintings can be seen at Lisa's Flickr site:www.flickr.com/photos/lisamosesgallery Time to begin what I know will be a Wonderful Week.

Peace, Danny

"Learn how to be happy with what you havewhile you pursue all that you want."~Jim Rohn

Friday, October 17, 2008

Hi, Just a short note (Ha) to close out the week. It was a beautiful, clear day here in Chiang Rai. The wind blew for a while in the afternoon, but it was basically a post-card day. The song was "Baby, It's You" by The Shirells. It was written by Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Barney Williams. That last name was a pseudonym for the producer, Luther Dixon. It was a common thing for producers to do something to get their name on the credit, and get a piece of the copyright. It was released in '62 and has been covered by tons of artists. Now you know. Here's one for the weekend: "It's getting near dawn, When lights close their tired eyes. I'll soon be with you my love,To give you my dawn surprise. I've been waiting so long, to be where I'm going, In the __ __ __ __" Clues: A trio in the '60s, often found in coffee. Key word in title gives us warmth, and that's all you get. You should know this. You have extra days to think. Step away from the Google. This morning we went to the market. Actually, we went to the grocery store in the market. It's like a super-market type store which is different than the stalls and smells of the 'Thai' market. We picked up what we needed, found a few more things and zipped off to another market where you just drive up and get the fruit you want. I've gotten familiar enough with the town that I can visualize a circle for shopping runs, just like the 'old days' in Culver City. Before I forget, Claire wrote and asked about the nature of the fires I mentioned. They are all intentional burns. Most of them are either people burning extra trash or farmers getting rid of the dried left-overs of a harvested crop. It's a lot better than it used to be, prior to our arrival. There are several university professors who have written articles about the hazards of this kind of burning, but if you don't read the paper, you don't know. I suppose more education will, over time, change things. For now, we just stay inside and turn on the air. So ends the 'short note'. It's time for the 'Funnies' from Cousin Trudye. Have a Cool WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

HOW'S NORMA

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph's Hospital. She timidly asked, 'Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?'The operator said, 'I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number?'

The operator replied, 'Let me place you on hold while I check with her nurse.'

After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, 'Oh, I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing very well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back as normal, and her physician, Dr.Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged on Tuesday.'

The grandmother said, 'Thank you. That's wonderful! I was so worried! God bless you for the good news.'

The operator replied, 'You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?'

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Hi, Aside from a few more fireworks, it was a pretty quiet day around the 'Big Brown House'. It was windy today and cooler than it's been. We chose not to swim (Brrr) but later in the day we had a guest. I'm so glad to see that our memories are intact. A bunch of you knew the song on the first day. This next line is for the rest."Is it true what they say about you (cheat, cheat)? They say you'll never, ever, never be true. It doesn't matter what they say,I know I'm gonna love you any old way, what can I do, What 'bout you.... __ __ __" Clue: Oh really now, you know it. I'm happy to report that Bam is doing better. She's full of energy and it's hard to hold her back. A few more days and she should be able to have her yard back. (Ha) This afternoon Boot carried her upstairs to visit Lisa in her studio. When she asked BamBam if she wanted to see Lisa, she said she got all excited. Like I said, 'Smart dog'. We actually thought we might get some rain today. This morning it was very cloudy, but the wind blew it all out. There's a storm over Vietnam that's heading east. It will lose strength, but we still could get some rain. It would be nice because there's been a lot of burning in the area and rain always clears the air. Tay and her daughter Napa came over late in the day. Napa came with her swimming gear and had a great time in the pool. Oh, I forgot to mention that our little friend Oui came over on Tuesday and we all played in the pool. He has won some medals for swimming at school and is a 'fish' in the water. We were reminded how much we miss C-Bass and August and how much fun we'd have with them. It won't be long before the water is too cold for any of us so we'll just keep using the pool until that happens. It's winter time now and the air will be getting cooler as the days get shorter. It occurred to me the other day that I'm getting pretty good at getting around town, but I don't know the names of most of the streets. It's all about landmarks and bread crumbs. If you saw some of the signs, you'd sympathize. I'm going to need someone to ride with me and tell me how to pronounce the major street names so I can be more 'fluent'. I'd be hard-pressed to give anyone directions at this point. "Turn right at the Police station, right at the next light and it will take you to the market." Or I might tell you to "Take a right at the Police station, a right at Doi Chang and a left at the New Clock Tower, then a left at the first street and park." This would take you to the Wangcome Hotel and street parking. See what I mean? For now, scroll down to the quote sent to me by my friend Christopher and have a Good Thursday.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Hi, For some reason, we've been waking up earlier than before. Yesterday it was the temple, today, just awake. I suspect part of it is the fact that Lisa goes down to help Boot with BamBam and she gets up early (Bam, that is). So much for small talk. I got a little more mail about the song. Yes, it was "Handyman" but it was by Jimmy Jones. James Taylor had a notable hit with it, but did you know that the original sold a million copies? (Ha) Now you know. This next one was written by a very famous writing team. You should know this one too. "It's not the way you smile that touched my heart. It's not the way you kissed that tears me apart. Many, many, many nights go by, I sit alone at home and cry over you, what can I do? Don't want nobody, nobody, 'cause __, __ __" Hint: This one goes back a ways, but it's still around (confused?) It's from the early 60s by a Girl Group, then by lots of other groups. Hmm. Today was a big celebration day at the temple and apparently all over. We heard some really cool music drifting through the 'hood'. One set consisted of small gongs, a marimba-like instrument, an oboe-like horn and drums. A little later there was a singer who sang some melodic lines that were first cousins to the blues. In the afternoon there was some chanting. Later in the day people started setting off fireworks. I found out too late that our neighbor wanted to take me to the temple today. That would have been special. No one to tell me what's going on, just go with the flow. I suppose that's the whole idea. I'm going to make sure I don't miss the next opportunity. I think the fact that he wanted to take me has some significance. Another friend of ours wanted to take Lisa. I guess we're moving up to the next level in the social 'dance'. We took BamBam to the vet's this afternoon to check out a few things. She's going to be alright, just a little minor infection. The doctor was very confident about it healing. She was happy to go for a ride in the truck, but wasn't too pleased with the destination. She did cooperate with the doctor and his assistants. We've seen a bit about the fires in SoCal. I hope everyone is safe. If you have any specific news, let me know. It's still strange when things like that go on and we don't hear from you. And now, it's time for a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

"If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes,you may have a fresh start any moment you choose,for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down,but the staying down."~Mary Pickford

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Hi, Today was a low-key day that started really early. A few minutes before 6 a.m. we were awakened by the sound of drums, gongs and horns. There was 30 minutes of a steady rhythm which came from the temple in the village. It's about a half mile from here, but the sound carries and I think they ran it through the P.A. system so the whole community could hear. I'll tell you why in a minute. A few of you guessed pretty good on the song. My guess is, the original artist will come as a result of Google searches. Hmm, send it anyway. "Here is the main thing I want to say, I'm busy 24 hours a day. I fix broken hearts, I know I truly can..." Clues: Well, it's from the late 50s, which may take a few of you off the hook, and it's seen several musical stylings. That's a mark of a good song. When it can go from R&B to Pop to Smooth Folk (?) and still work, it's got to be good at the root. Today marked the end of a three month 'Rains Retreat' when Buddhist monks stay at the Wats overnight. I told you about this when it began. The history behind this tradition pre-dates Buddha, in India where Brahmin refrained from travel during the rainy season so as not to step on newly sprouted plants. It's also a time, for some, of extra study and reverence. I've condense all of this of course, but I found it interesting. BamBam is doing pretty good, considering she's been house/cage bound and can't run and play. She's a ball of energy and it's all she can do to comply. Today she got to go for a couple of walks on the leash and I'm sure it was both pleasurable and frustrating. She doesn't know it, but it's a lot better than if she was still in the hospital. A few more days and she'll be 'on patrol' again. Today I made a point of not mentioning her ball because she'd want to find it and play. I just said 'you know what' and she didn't get it. (Ha) We got another lesson in Thai etiquette today from our friend Tay. She had taken Lisa to a salon to get her hair styled and when they returned we learned that younger people wai (hands together in front of face) older people and the older have the option of returning the wai with a lower hand placement. That means that we'll be mostly returning them since most of the people we encounter are younger than us. Hmm. Takes the guess-work out of who goes first. It's time for a Happy Tuesday.

Peace, Danny

"Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor."~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Monday, October 13, 2008

It was an odd, freaky weekend without BamBam around. We resisted temptation to go over and see her on Saturday afternoon. We waited until Sunday. So quiet here.

The weekend song was "Space Cowboy" by Steve Miller. Hmm. Anyway, a few of you got it so it wasn't a bust. You know this: "Hey girls, gather 'round and listen to what I'm puttin' down, hey baby I'm your __ __." Hint: Some one you call when repairs are needed. Bonus points if you tell me who did it first. No points for the famous cover. (Ha)

When we went to see BamBam, you could feel the tension in the air. I think Boot was the most nervous. They rolled out BamBam's cage and she was so happy to see us. She was alert and ready to play. We talked to the doctor and at first he suggested she stay there until the stitches were removed. That would mean almost a week. Then he mentioned that she would be happier and probably heal faster at home. Yea. So we picked her up today, after getting instructions on what she could and couldn't do. We brought the cage home since she has to remain rather still this week. She gets to come out on her leash but just for short periods of time. It was a grand homecoming. Boot made a space in her apartment for the cage and Bam got lots of lovin'.

Sunday afternoon we went up to Bandu to run an errand and it struck me that up here, motorbikes are like horses. There's a connection that people have that reminded me of cowboys and their horses. Some walk, some gallop, and I started seeing the whole 'dance' in a different light. Hmm, no horse thieves around these parts either.

Sunday evening we went down to the Night Bazaar for dinner and strolled a bit. Then we returned home to watch the Japanese Gran Prix. Fortunately, they repeat the broadcast several times here. It's a bigger deal everywhere but in the U.S. They even have contests with tickets to one of the races as the prize. Two races to go in the season.

Time to start a new week. Have a Great One. Today's quote was sent in by my friend Claire.

Peace,

Danny

"There are times when the only choice is to make a bundle of all unanswered questions, leave a prayer for good, gently close the door and tiptoe away."

Friday, October 10, 2008

Hi, Today we ended the week by visiting the frame shop, tasting new tastes, playing a new game and dropping off the dog. Wow, all that in one day and still had a little change left. So, the song was "Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly. Oh my. It was done in 1957. Paul sent me some great lines in response to the age of the song vs his age: "I don't know what's up w/my memory these days... I have the hardest time recalling just about everything that happened before I was born! Well, according to Google, it's Buddy Holly from 1957 (when I was -8 years old!)." I might also add that he mentioned that it was based on the feel from Bo Diddley. Yes, we've been here before, and now you know."I told you 'bout living in the U.S. of A., don't you know that I'm a gangster of love. Let me tell you people that I found a new way, and I'm tired of all this talk about love....I'm a __ __ Bet you weren't ready for that. I'm a __ __ bet you weren't ready for that." Hint: Bay Area rocker with a long list of hits. In this song he gives himself a new label. Two words, one from the past and one from the future. Hmm. Wave your hand, say the magic word and you might remember. We went back to the frame shop today to pick up seven of Lisa's works. We've become fast friends with the owner, Khun Noy. He speaks pretty good English and loves artists and their work. He buys work from lots of artists apparently. Anyway, while we were waiting for wrapping paper to arrive, he went next door and got us something to drink. It was Lemon grass juice. Of course it had a dose of sugar in it, but it was good. So good that I went over and bought a few to take home. Then the lady at the restaurant started bringing out every flavor of juice she had in the back. I think we came home with three kinds of juice.Khun Noy's wife is a professor at Mae Farluang University and is working on her PhD. They'll be coming to dinner in the near future. One of the things we bought at Big C the other day was a little racket and ball set for the pool. Today we broke them out and played the craziest game of whatever. Water tennis, pool ping-pong, a name will come to me eventually. The rackets have a plastic film instead of webbing on the hitting surface. If you tap them they sound like a drum. Very cool. Bam was curious until I hit a ball that came in her direction. She made her way to the far side of the yard, looking over her shoulder like we had lost our minds. Speaking of BamBam, we took her to the vet this evening. Boot was very brave. We all were. We'll leave her there for about a week, maybe. It's going to be really quiet around here with her gone. We took some of her treats for after her surgery. We got her a little cloth animal to pass the time over night. Lisa rubbed it on all of us so it would smell familiar. (brilliant) She took right to it and began chewing away, lying in a cage. She was the most relaxed of all of us. Hmm. After we left the vets we went down to the Night Bazaar to see Paladorn. His wife and daughter were at his booth and we had a nice short visit and got info on a silk-screener. It was a good distraction for all of us. It's time for the 'Funnies' sent in by Cousin Trudye. Have a Great WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

The Importance of Walking

Each walk you take can add several minutes to your life expectancy.

This enables you at 89 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60.. Now he's 97 years old and we don't know where the hell he is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, she looks good doesn't she.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.~~~~~~~~~~~~ I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years,...... just getting over the hill. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~

You could walk this over to your friends but why not just e-mail it to them!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Hi, Today was a prime example of the language barrier at work. This morning Lisa got a call, in Thai, and what she gleaned from it was that something was finished. She has some artwork being framed and we naturally assumed that it was done. Hmm. Read on. I got a few responses to the song. Where is everybody? Surely you remember this tune, sung by an artist who left us early in his career. "Love to last more than one day, well love is love and __ __ __." Clue: He was on tour with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, and he sang about Peggy Sue. Is your memory fading? We were excited about picking up the latest group of framed artwork and made our way to the shop only to find out that it wasn't done and they hadn't called. The only other thing it could have been was the bag project, but that wasn't supposed to be done for weeks. Since we were at the frame shop, we walked around the corner to the vet to make arrangements to take BamBam in on Friday evening to be spayed on Saturday. We left the vet's and went to the silkscreen shop. They were the ones who called, to show us a sample. Things went downhill from there. What they showed us was all wrong and no one spoke English. The colors on one of the prints was way off and we were very disappointed. We decided to return in the afternoon with Boot. Without going further into the pit, there's a standoff about what to do with the work that's been done. Now we look for another outfit to do the work properly. In other news, things seem to be calming down in Bangkok, and the plight of the world economy has reach our shores. One thing that we find very interesting is the fact that the price of gas is actually coming down. I'm getting used to making a graceful entrance into the cold water in the pool. Once submerged and active, it's really quite pleasant. It's just the shock of entry that I don't like, but I'm being brave about it. (Ha) BamBam still doesn't want anything to do with the water. She comes to the edge and gets a big kick out of licking water off of our hands. Cheap thrills. All of our training efforts are paying off, most of the time. We've also discovered that she's bilingual. Boot has been giving her a few directions in Thai and she responds accordingly. What a dog. I'm done with Thursday, and now it's your turn.

Peace, Danny

"If you only walk on sunny days,you may never reach your destination."~Michelle Redmond

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Hi, We had rain last night and this morning. On one hand, it's a good thing because it waters the trees and lawns. On the other hand, it changes the chemical balance of the pool and it makes for cold water. Hmm. The weekend song, which many of you got right, was "Beachwood 45789" by The Marvelettes. Lane tells us it was written by Marvin Gaye, Mickey (William) Stevenson, and Berry Gordy and recorded in 1962. Now you know. One of my fav groups. Next:"I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be, you're gonna give your love to me" Hint: Indelible comes to mind. Writer not with us, but the song endures. Who wrote and sang it first? Extra credit 'Cool Points' if you can tell me whose 'beat' the song is based around. It's really hard to concentrate early in the morning. This morning we watched the debate at 8 o'clock. A lot later, we went to Big C for a cart full of supplies. It was sprinkling so we parked inside thinking we'd at least avoid the puddles we saw. Hmm, there were puddles inside the parking structure. Oh well. We did indulge ourselves a bit. We bought some pool toys. A pair of little 'floaties' (inflatible armbands) an inner-tube type thing and a paddle ball set. Now the question is, do we try these things out (the ball toys) or wait until more kids come over. I think you know the answer. (5) After lunch and a snooze we debated whether to swim in cold water, get a massage or both. The massage won and we went downtown. We both got very good people this time and lots of kinks got worked out. It's funny (not really) how I can go in thinking 'this' hurts and in the course of the massage, I find out that 'that' hurts and I didn't even know it. In the last paragraph I referred to the word 'funny' in a not so funny way. What black and white T.V. show had specific labels for the various kinds of 'funny'? It's time to have a Wacky Wednesday. Enjoy.

Peace, Danny

"The basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems become thevery place to discover wisdom and love."~Jack Kornfield, A Path With Heart

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Hi, I'm guessing that your first question is, "Are they safe over there?". The answer is 'Yes'. As I've said before, Bangkok is a long way from Chiang Rai. What's going on there is not good, but we're in no danger at all. From what we hear, most of Bangkok is safe. So, let's all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Some of you really know your oldies. I think it's marvelous that a song can live for so long. This one was born in '62. Hmm."Don't be shy (don't be shy), just take-a your ti-ime (just take your time), I'd like to get to know you (like to get to know you)I'd like to make you mine (like to make you mine)...And my number is: __ __ __. You can call me up and have a date any old time."Hint: I suppose the singer would be called 'fast' by some, but she's waiting on a timid young man. She's just trying to move things along. And this was way before cell phones. Today we rode up to Ban Du, which is just north of us, up the highway. We went to check on Blue and Ming's house and then stop at the morning market. We decided to take BamBam with us as part of her 'socialization'. I'll just say that she has a ways to go when it comes to being mellow outside. So many things to see and smell. Lisa had her on the leash at the house while Boot and I did a little walk through. At the market, I had leash duty. Bam pulled and tugged and disregarded most of what she's learned in the yard. It's really alright, considering that she's just a little over 5 months old and the world is so big. We'll start taking her more places and getting her used to different surroundings and people. I forgot to tell you about our Sunday dinner. We went to the Night Bazaar and ate at our favorite 'sit down' spot. It's upstairs and it's run by a family. They have a little girl who's about 4 years old. She takes on the role of hostess...sometimes, and has come to our table several times in the past. Each time, she spends a little more time. Sunday night she greeted us and took our umbrellas and later came to the table several times. In fact, she presented us with a bill that she made and then sat down and drew pictures while we finished our dinner. Now if only we could understand everything she says. It's time for Happy Tuesday.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Hi, So, how was your weekend. Ours was very mellow. We had swimming guests, plumbing guests and a big rain storm. All in all, a rather typical time. The weekend song was known by many. It was "Your Song" by Sir Elton John. We'll start the week with a tough one. (Ha)"You can have this dance with me. You can hold my hand and whisper in my ear sweet words that I love to hear.And my number is __ __ __ You can call me up and have a date any old time" Hint: It's an 'Oldie' by a major 'Girl Group' and you know it's old because there's a prefix involved. Hmm. Saturday, Boot's English teacher and his girlfriend came over for a swim. He's from Virginia and is here on a one year contract. We had a great time comparing notes on living in Thailand. When it came to 'what do you miss most', he missed snow and winter sports. Oh well, none of that around here. While they swam, Lisa went to watch a ballet class with Tay and her daughter Napa. It brought back lots of memories for her. Brought back a few for me too, even though I didn't go. The teacher comes up from Chiang Mai every weekend and teaches the class. Who would imagine there'd be a ballet class up here? A few months ago 'Dirty Pool Guy' installed a tank and electric motor so we could have water upstairs in case the city water stopped working. Needless to say, when the water went out recently, the pump provided no water. Kak brought a guy over to fix the problem but I don't think he understood the concept. They worked on Friday and Sunday and it still doesn't work. More will be revealed. That brings me to something I've been thinking about. Chiang Rai is full of amazing contrast. One minute it feels like any other small town and then you realize you're sitting in traffic next to a pedal driven Samlor and across the street a man is pulling a cart. A few blocks down you're following a truck with 10 or 12 people in the back and they're following a BMW. You step out of a modern, air-conditioned restaurant and watch people eating from 'portable kitchens' parked at the curb. It's a constant contrast of different worlds. The other day I watched a man pull his truck to the side of the road under a tree, and connect a hammock to the tree and take a nap. Try that in L.A. (Ha) Have a Wonderfilled Week.

Peace, Danny

"The best way to prepare for tomorrowis to make today's consciousness serene and harmonious.All other good things will follow upon that." ~Emmet Fox

Friday, October 3, 2008

Hi, By certain calculations, it's either the end of the week or mighty close to it. We had an interesting day. We had our first actual swimming guest. Up until now Lisa and I have been the only ones in the pool. We keep inviting people to come over and swim, but there seems to be this supposed 'cultural' thing about being too shy to swim. I don't buy it. I've seen people in the river. Anyway, I'll tell you in a minute. Cousin Trudye was the only person to write me with the correct answer to the song. It was "Maybe" by The Chantels. Oh my, and you know that song. Lisa warned me that nobody would get it, but it was too late. I had already hit 'send'. You know this?"It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside, I'm not one of those, who can easily hide. I don't have much money, but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live..." Clues: Early 70s hit by a singer who became a Sir, costumes R Us, this one's for you... Hmm. Our friend Tay has a nine y/o daughter. Apparently Napa has been bugging her mom to bring her over. Today was the day. It was mid-morning when they arrived. We would have joined her in the pool, but the water was cold to us. So she had the whole thing to herself. She had a ball, swimming and playing. I got out the water toys and that really added to the fun. We swam a little later in the day, after the water warmed up a bit. Tomorrow Lisa is going to go with Tay to watch Napa's ballet class. We've been doing some 'training' with BamBam lately. As Lisa puts it, "Teaching her some manners". What's really going on is making it perfectly clear that we are the Alpha dogs and she is the Beta. No jumping, biting, or taking advantage. It was cute when she was little, but certain habits can be very annoying after a while. So, Miss Bam is now mellowing out, sitting when told and enjoying walking on a leash. She's also getting little treats at unannounced times during her lessons. She still has her moments of craziness when she tears around the yard, but she's a dog. Oh, she's learning to catch her ball. Not that we're playing catch or anything, but when it bounces on the driveway, she jumps up and snatches it out of the air. I'm thinking this dog may have Frisbee potential. That would be big fun. I going to let you go early today because the 'Funnies' are long. They were sent to me by our friend Alan. This is the first time I've sent a video clip, but the punch line is in the video and it's wonderful. Have a Cool WeekEnd.

Peace, Danny

Dear Geek Squad,

I recently purchased an HP Printer, and when I am in the room watching it, it works perfectly. However, nearly every time I leave it unattended, the papers come out wrinkled, sometimes even shredded, with blurred ink. If I re-start the print job and babysit it, there are no problems. You can imagine that this has been very frustrating, and I would appreciate one of your technicians coming out to fix whatever the problem is. Thank you, Dave Larson

Dave,

Thank you for contacting the Geek Squad. As you know, one of our top technicians was dispatched to investigate your printer problem. His initial findings mirrored your experience, so he set up a hidden camera to document what was causing the paper disruption. Please review the attached video, and thanks again for your business. And for the laughs we all had upon discovering the source of your problem. Sincerely, Mark Donaldson, Geek Squad (See attached file: Printer problem.wmv)

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Hi, There's never a dull moment around here. We got through the storm and then the strangest thing happened. This morning we discovered we had no water. You'd think, with all the rain, that there'd be plenty of water. Wrong. Bring on the mother of invention. Well, so far Cousin Trudye is the only one to write me with the answer to the song. Maybe today's clues will help you."__, if I hold your hand, You will understand. And __, if I kissed your lips, you'll be at my command. Ohhhh, __..."Hint: Maybe you don't listen to KRTH (oldies radio), maybe you weren't around when it was a hit, or maybe I just gave you the answer. With no water in the house, we had to get creative. We have plenty of drinking water since we don't drink the 'city water'. The big question was what to do about the 'facilities'. I put on my thinking cap and came up with a brilliant solution: the swimming pool. It's full of water. So, I got a giant water jug and filled the toilet tanks and calm was established. (Ha) Later the water returned, then went away and then returned. In the meantime, we went into town for shopping and lunch. We went to Black Canyon Coffee since we like their menu. Lisa ordered a soup she had over the weekend. Today, when they served it, it was extra spicy. The chef was more than willing to 'cool' it down. It's nice to have that kind of service. This afternoon, on our way home, I saw a man pulling a big cart full of ladders. We'd been thinking that we need a really tall ladder for various jobs around the house. I didn't stop, but it stayed on my mind. About an hour later I heard the honking of a bicycle horn. I looked out the upstairs window and it was the 'Ladder Guy'. Lisa ran down to open the gate, I yelled from the window and we ended up with the ladder cart in our driveway. After much negotiation we bought with a very tall ladder. We were hoping to get a swim but realized we couldn't shower afterwards. That's about the time the water returned so we hit the pool. Just after our showers the water went away. Talk about timing. So there you have it, another adventurous day in Thailand. Have a Wonderful Thursday.

Peace, Danny

"If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone."~Maxwell Maltz

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Hi, Today was storm clean-up day. Not so much for us, but there were a lot of people with wind damage and major leaks. It's one thing when the rain comes down, but when it comes sideways, all sorts of things happen. In case you were wondering, the song was "Urgent" by Foreigner. Ahh yes, now you remember. Lois inspired me to pick this:"__, if I pray every night, you'll come back to me. __ , if I cry everyday, you'll come back to stay. Ohhh, __." Clue: It's by a Girl Group from, shall we say, my younger days. Probably on of the biggest in their era. I think you'll get this easy, even if you weren't born yet. (Ha) It turns out we were very lucky, or had planned well. The storm blew a little water in the house, but at least parts of the roof didn't blow away and no trees fell on anything. We do have one tree, our plumeria that's leaning a bit too much. Kak will come over tomorrow and give it some support. And to think we thought the rainy season was over. Maybe this is residual something from the cyclone (hurricane) that hit Taiwan. We had some rain today. Light in the morning and then it really came down late this afternoon. It's good for the air, and the fields, but further south, there's been too much rain and the ground is saturated. As far as Chiang Rai goes, it's been a safe season. They're starting to sell jackets at Big C and the Night Bazaar, which means that winter's coming. Low 60s is very cold for a lot of people here. Probably will be cold for us this year. We have plenty of warm things if it gets 'cold'. Our neighbor, Mr. Narong, has been working on his property for a couple of weeks now. He's erected a traditional Northern style facade over his front gate and some other roof-like structures next to it. He used to have three little deer in a pen. They're gone and now he has three big cows that live in the field beside his house. I kept hearing a deep 'moo' that seemed to be too regular. Cows come and go and I know some that live in the village, but this was close by. Boot found out they are his cows. Now the question is, what do you do with these cows? Maybe he's going into the lawn cutting business. That's the common use for the cows in these parts. They herd them to the vacant fields and they do their thing. If I find out, I'll share. It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace, Danny

"The world is round and the place which may seem likethe end may also be only the beginning."~Ivy Baker Priest

Followers

Cast of Characters

In September of 2007, my wife Lisa and I moved to Chiang Rai Thailand. This site is my reflections, observations, and the daily happenings of an expatriot living in another land.

By now you're probably scratching your head, wondering 'who are these people?'. These are frequently mentioned names in the daily messages.

August (18) and C-Bass (23) are our GodSons. We've been in their lives since they were born. Jeff and Anna are their parents.Joe is Lisa's Dad, there are Bay Area Cousins, Valley Cousins, NH Cousins, and San Diego Cousins.

Here in Thailand, there's Natcha, who cooks, cleans and teaches us, her husband Gong, who takes care of the grounds and also cooks. Nitchanan is the 2 1/2 year old daughter of Natcha and Gong. Cat is a 21 year old Thai student who was with us since October 2013 and is now attending college. And then there's Daku, our Golden Retriever who is 9 years old. We got him when he was only 5 weeks old.I think that about does it for now,